Veterans and their families in New Jersey will now have access to new career training and career placement opportunities, thanks to the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) and New Jersey Defense Manufacturing Community Consortium (NJDMCC).
The training opportunities offered by NJMEP and County College of Morris focus on foundational manufacturing skills such as welding, machining (CNC), as well as certifications in safety and production processes. The program is available for five years and offers 1,200 participants.
“Advanced manufacturing provides incredible, sustainable career opportunities for our nation’s veterans and their family members. Often, these individuals are a perfect match to support the Department of Defense and its supply chain because of the training and experience they received while enlisted,” said Torsten Schimanski, senior director of Workforce Development & Strategic Growth, NJMEP.
NJMEP is inviting manufacturers and suppliers in the Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain to join the newly formed consortium. Below is an example of just some of the partners currently involved:
- New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC)
- The African American Chamber of Commerce of NJ
- The National Armaments Consortium (NAC)
- The Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of NJ
- US Manufacturing Institutes
o American Lightweight Materials (ALMMI)
o Advanced Robotics (ARM)
o National Center of Defense Manufacturing (NJDMM)
John W. Kennedy, Ph.D, CEO, NJMEP added, “Not only is the training a key aspect of this exciting initiative, but we will also be working together with industry and community partners to place these newly trained, highly reliable individuals at manufacturing organizations all around the state. It closes the loop, so this amazing population isn’t left to transition back into the civilian world without the support they deserve.”
Based on funds awarded by the Department of Defense – Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, NJMEP and partners from around the state will be able to train veterans and their families to support their transition from military service into the civilian workforce.
“This investment into this underserved community will go so far in helping veterans gain the industry-relevant knowledge they will need to make a smooth transition into advanced manufacturing,” added Schimanski.
Click here to learn more about NJMEP and its services.
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